Applying Noncontact Sensing Technology in the Customized Product Design of Smart Clothes Based on Anthropometry

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology
• Cardiovascular Monitoring

Background:

• Conventional electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes (Ag/AgCl) pose challenges for long-term monitoring due to skin irritation and gel issues.
• Existing dry electrodes often require good skin contact and are susceptible to motion artifacts, limiting their use in daily life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop smart clothes with noncontact electrodes for comfortable and stable long-term ECG monitoring.
• To mitigate skin irritation and discomfort associated with traditional ECG electrodes.
• To reduce motion artifacts in ECG signals through customized product design.

Main Methods:

• Development of smart clothes incorporating noncontact electrodes for biopotential assessment through fabric.
• Creation of a 3D parametric model based on anthropometric data for customized garment design.
• Integration of customized product design techniques to minimize motion artifact influence.

Main Results:

• The developed smart clothes successfully acquired ECG signals without direct skin contact, preventing irritation.
• A customized design approach effectively reduced the impact of motion artifacts during various physical activities.
• Stable and good quality ECG signals were maintained even under dynamic motion conditions.

Conclusions:

• Smart clothes with noncontact electrodes offer a promising solution for comfortable, long-term ECG monitoring.
• Customized design based on anthropometric data enhances the robustness of wearable ECG systems against motion.
• This technology has the potential to improve cardiovascular disease diagnosis and management through continuous, unobtrusive monitoring.